Longform improv that creates a coherent story with beginning, middle, and end — an improvised play or film. Distinguished from collage-based forms (Harold) by commitment to a single through-line narrative.
How it differs from Harold: The Harold is a collage — multiple unrelated scene threads connected by theme, with comedy arising from unexpected juxtapositions. Narrative longform is a story — characters, plot, and dramatic arc drive the piece. Harold emphasizes game; narrative emphasizes consequence. What happens in scene 3 is caused by what happened in scene 2.
Johnstone's narrative theory: The core metaphor from Impro, Ch. 4: "The improviser has to be like a man walking backwards. He sees where he has been, but he pays no attention to the future." Three key concepts:
- Platform — establishing where/who/what before anything happens. Johnstone emphasizes establishing shots before character introduction, following film convention.
- Tilt — the event that pushes the platform into action, "the balance of normality has been tilted." Impro for Storytellers provides pre-set tilt lists to help force the action.
- Reincorporation — the essential narrative skill. "His story can take him anywhere, but he must still balance it, and give it shape, by remembering incidents that have been shelved and reincorporating them." Toward the end, reincorporation accelerates — when all reincorporations have been made, the story is usually finished.
Narrative longform structures:
- The Movie — Developed by The Family under Del Close; one of the "Three Mad Rituals." Cast scene-paints three locations, announces a title, performs scenes rotating through locations. Backline calls camera directions (close-up, pan, split screen, slow motion). Genre conventions drive the scene work.
- The Musical — Fully improvised musical (Baby Wants Candy). Songs, story, choreography, all unscripted.
- BATS Improv style — San Francisco's BATS (founded 1986) pioneered 2-hour single-story shows with intermission, genre-driven, functioning like improvised plays.
- Story Spine — Scaffold: "Once upon a time... Every day... Until one day... Because of that... Until finally..." Removes guesswork about what part of the story comes next.